Toy vehicle, including foot operated ratchet drive mechanism



Sept. 22, 1953 J. B. LASSITER 2,653,037

TOY VEHICLE, INCLUDING FOOT OPERATED RATCHET DRIVE MECHANISM Filed May 8, 1950 Jerry B. Lass/fer INVENTOR.

nub -913M Patented Sept. 22, 1953 TOY VEHICLE, INCLUDHIG FOOT OPERATED RATCHET DRIVE MECHANISM Jerry B. Lassiter, Windsor, Vt.

Application May 8, 1950, Serial No. 160,760

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toy vehicles and the primary object of the present invention is to pr a 3 vehicle including a novel and improved foot operated drive means therefor.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle having a drive means that can be operated only for moving the vehicle forwardly and thereby preventing accidental rear movement of the vehicle since the drive means will function as a brake to prevent rearward movement of the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle having a drive means that may be easily actuated by either the right or left foot of a user or which may be simultaneously actuated by both feet of a user.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, easy to repair, install and service, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention and with parts of vehicle body broken away for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 and with parts of the vehicle body broken away for the convenience of explanation; and

Figure 3 is a group rear elevational view of the drive means forming part of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral It! represents an elongated hollow body of any suitable material having a drivers seat l2 close to which there is positioned a steering mechanism M. The body II] is also provided with forward and rear fenders l6 and I8.

Forward and rear axles 20 and 22 are also journaled for rotation on the body It). The rear axle always remains transversely of the body l whereas the forward axle is mounted for swinging movement on the body and is operatively connected to the steering mechanism l4 whereby the vehicle may be steered by a driver in the drivers seat I 2.

Since the present invention does not attempt to claim the steering mechanism or the manner in which the steering mechanism is operatively connected to the forward axle, a more detailed description of the steering mechanism will not be disclosed, however, reference is made to Patent No. 1,350,577, issued August 24, 1920, for a showing of one suitable type steering means which is adapted to the present invention.

The drive means forming the principal feature of the present invention is shown best in Figure 3 of the drawings with the drive connection shown best in Figures 1 and 2. This drive means includes a shaft 24 that is journaled for rotation in suitable bearings mounted on the body Ill. The shaft 24 parallels the axles 20, 22 and is preferably located between the axles and 22.

A drive sprocket 26 is suitably fixed on the shaft 24 intermediate the ends of the shaft 24. Clutch rings or ratchet rings 28 and 30 are fixed on the faces of the sprocket 26 and are disposed concentric of the shaft 24. Sleeves 32 and 34 are rotatably supported on the shaft 24 and oppose the clutch rings 28 and 30 respectively.

Additional clutch rings or ratchet members 36 and 38 are fixed to the inner ends of the sleeves 32 and 3-4. The clutch rings 36 and 38 are opposed to the clutch rings 28 and 30 so that a rotation of the clutch members 36 and 38, together or independently, in one direction will cause rotation of the sprocket 26 whereas rotation of the clutch members 36 and 38 in an opposite direction will cause the clutch members 36 and 38 to ratchet past the clutch members 28 and 30.

Coil springs 40 and 42 embrace the ends of the shaft 24 and are biased between the bearings (not shown) for the shaft 24 and the sleeves 32 and 34 to yieldingly urge the sleeves 32 and 34 toward the sprocket 26 and the clutch members 36 and 38 against the clutch members 28 and 30'.

Levers 44 and 45 are suitably fixed to the sleeves 32 and 34. The levers 44 and 46 include pressure plates or foot receiving portions 48 and 30 that parallel the shaft 24. Arms 52 and 54 are suitably secured to the sleeves 32, 34 and are attached to the forward terminals of coil springs 56 and 58 Whose rear terminals are attached to the body it! to yieldingly urge the levers 44, 46 to a raised position.

r. O A driven sprocket 60 is suitably secured on the rear axle 22 and is connected to the drive sprocket 26 by an endless sprocket chain 62 so that a rotation of the sprocket 26 will effect a rotation of the sprocket 60 and hence the axle 22 and the wheels 64 on the rear axle 22. Obviously, a rotation of the wheels 64 will likewise cause the wheels 66 on the forward axle to rotate since the entire body willbe moved forwardly by a rotation of the drive wheels 64.

In practical use of the present invention, a

depression of a selected one or both of the pedals- 48, 50 will cause the clutchmembers 31 and/or 38 to be rotated and hence the clutch'members .28 and/or 39 to be rotated to impart rotation to the rear axle 22 and the wheels thereon.

After the pedal or pedals are released,. the

spring or springs 55 and 58 will return the pedal ironstops S, mounted on the body ID, will permit.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with-the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding ofthe device will be quite apparent to those skilled in? this art. A'more detailed description is accordingly deemed: unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described as preferred embodiment of the invention thesame is susceptible to certain changes fully compre hended by thespirit of the invention asherein described and the scope of the appended claim; Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

Ina toy vehicle including a body having forward and rear wheel supporting axles, means operatively connected to the rear axle for rotating the same, said means comprising a shaft rotatably supported on the body and paralleling the rear axle, a drive sprocket fixed to the center of the shaft and operatively connected to the rear axle, a clutch ring fixed to each side of the sprocket, a pair of sleeves slidably and rotatably positioned-on theshaft and disposed on opposite sides of the sprocket, saidsleeves each having an inner end and an outer end, a clutch member fixed to the inner end of each sleeve, 2. pairof. footi pedals having shank portions fixed to'thetinnerx ends of the sleeve and diverging relative to each other as they extend from the sleeves, coil'springs on the ends of the shaft engagingthe outerrends of the sleeves and urging the sleeves toward the sprocket and the clutch members into engagement with the clutch rings, rigid arms fixed to and projecting outwardly from theouter ends of the sleeves, elongated spring members having forward ends-attached to the arms and rear ends attached-to the body to urge the'pedals' to be raised, and stopsfixed to the body against which the arms are urged bysaid spring members.

JERRY B. LASSITER.

References-Cited.- in thezfileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

